Interferon-gamma expression is an independent prognostic factor in ovarian cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Epithelial ovarian cancer prognosis is improved by the presence of intratumoral CD3 + T cells, which are known to produce interferon-gamma. We therefore speculated that interferon-gamma expression in ovarian cancer-infiltrating T-lymphocytes might cause better prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression of interferon-gamma and other related genes in normal ovaries (n = 19) and in ovarian cancer specimens (n = 99). Median follow-up of patients was 5.8 years.

RESULTS:

Interferon-gamma and CD-3 expression did not significantly differ in normal and malignant tissue. Patients with high levels of interferon-gamma expression had significantly longer progression-free and overall survival. Median time to progression was 10 and 29 months for patients with low and high interferon-gamma expression, respectively ( P = .039). Corresponding survival times were 29 and 44 months ( P < .032). Application of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed interferon-gamma expression to be an independent prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival.

CONCLUSION:

Elevated interferon-gamma expression correlates with improved clinical outcome in patients with ovarian cancer.

• Authors: Christian Marth, Heidi Fiegl, Alain G Zeimet, Elisabeth Müller-Holzner, Martina Deibl, Wolfgang Doppler, Günter Daxenbichler
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 191 Issue 5 Pg. 1598-605 (Nov 2004) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15547530 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA Primers
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Austria (epidemiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• DNA Primers
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Interferon-gamma (metabolism)
• Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Ovarian Neoplasms (metabolism, mortality)
• Ovary (metabolism)
• Prognosis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Survival Analysis